Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

Hotel Style

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

The newest member of the Sandals family, Sandals LaSource Grenada opened in December 2013. The sprawling "Spice Island" property encompasses the easy-breezy feel one comes to expect from a visit to the Caribbean, as well as a high level of luxury and style. There are three different villages to choose from: Pink Gin, Italian, and South Seas, each offering their own unique charm. The biggest draw for many visitors: an intimate feel despite the magnitude of the property, which manages to exude equal parts warmth and professionalism. "The guests' first impression upon seeing the hotel is that it is big, but what is so amazing is that once you are on the grounds, the property immediately gives that small hotel residential ambience," says general manager of Sandals LaSource, Peter Fraser. He attributes this warmth and intimacy to the already growing number of repeat visitors.

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Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

LaSource Grenada

The luxurious LaSource Grenada features 225 rooms and suites, three villages, nine restaurants, three pools and two rivers.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jessica Padykula
Source: Sandals Resorts

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

Chic but comfortable rooms

As comfortable as you want to be in a hotel room, you also want it to feel like an escape from the everyday. The rooms and suites at Sandals LaSource manage to easily straddle the line between chic and comfortable. Peter explains that a signature blue was used throughout the resort as a gesture to the hue that is CEO Adam Stewart’s favourite colour. Lively art and warm wood tones were then added to give the rooms a more Caribbean feel. “The objective was to create a chic island style with casual fabrics, comfortable spaces and top of the line bathrooms, while at the same time keeping it simple, sexy and sophisticated.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jessica Padykula
Source: Sandals Resorts

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

The Living Room

One of the best parts of any resort is a common space that brings people together and allows for quiet relaxation, ideally with drink in hand. At Sandals LaSource that space is the Living Room. The stylish space was part of the original LaSource (Sandals took over and extensively renovated and added to an existing property), which they decided to keep. “It is a great piece of architecture with its high vaulted ceiling, spacious, with natural ventilation throughout the year creating a setting for cozy, comfortable contentment,” Peter explains.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jessica Padykula
Source: Sandals Resorts

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

Skypool suites

Imagine being able to step out of your tastefully decorated bedroom, into your own private infinity pool – that’s exactly what you can do in one of the property’s coveted Skypool suites. Peter explains that Sandals’ chairman asked for the pools to cantilever out of the building, which formed the conceptual basis for the design. “This created a suite where you could not tell if you were inside or outside,” he adds. “Fundamental to the finish was natural sunlight and high end furniture on the patio, so you never realize the threshold between the interior and exterior.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jessica Padykula
Source: Sandals Resorts

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

Spa-like bathrooms in Rondoval Suites

Bathroom design should never be secondary and at Sandals LaSource, it isn’t. The luxe bathrooms in the property’s Rondoval suites (named for their rounded design) are particularly eye-catching. “Our designer Sarah Hartman removed walls from the plan and instead used furniture to divide, which is warmer and less obtrusive,” says Peter of the fluid, spa-like feel. “Likewise, the glass walls for the washroom and shower area create natural light blending into the room.” The use of natural materials also helps to create a soothing feel, and the piece de resistance, a round, oversize natural stone bathtub, accentuates the overall look.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jessica Padykula
Source: Sandals Resorts

Hotel style: Sandals LaSource Grenada

Pin Gin pool

As if an infinity edge, unique shape and perfect location at the center of the resort wasn’t enough, the main pool for the Pink Gin Village also boasts its very own fire pits, a feature that gives the pool and surrounding area a sense of elegance as well as intrigue. “It comes alive at night and when you stand in the lobby area and look across the courtyard with the fire pits on either side and those on the beach, it’s sheer theatre,” Peter says. Not to worry though, they only get lit once the sun goes down so there’s no worry of swimming amidst the flames.

The Perfect Rustic Scandinavian Tablescape For The Holidays

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How to create a Scandi-rustic holiday tablescape

Rustic Scandi-chic tablescape

A dinner party that has guests raving for days is all in the details. Take this masterfully muted, fashionably festive and quietly romantic rustic Scandinavian tablescape. We love its creamy taupe, linen white and pale minty green colour scheme – a fresh take on tradition topped with subtle seasonal elements like sprigs of fresh evergreen and soft touches of gold. But even better are the elements you don’t notice at first glance like the effortless DIYs that even an uncrafty hostess can easily achieve. Here are the highlights.

By: Maya Visnyei
Source: Maya Visnyei

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How to create a Scandi-rustic holiday tablescape

Chair cheer

You’ve outdone yourself with this year’s holiday tablescape, but don’t overlook your chairs! What a perfect place to underscore your seating arrangement with ready-made mini buntings stencilled with snowflakes. Each topped with a gift tag and a sprig of greenery, the unexpected adornments are an easy way to add extra details that are sure to impress guests.

By: Maya Visnyei
Source: Maya Visnyei

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How to create a Scandi-rustic holiday tablescape

Sleigh away

These sweet place cards are not only wintry and whimsical, they’re also easy and inexpensive to execute: Simply tie a handwritten gift tag to a wooden toy sleigh (which, like the rest of the supplies, can be found at any craft store) with ribbon or yarn that matches your holiday colour scheme. Top it off with two FERRERO ROCHER® chocolates to treat guests with a decadent sweet to enjoy later – and maybe even dub you the host with the most!

By: Maya Visnyei
Source: Maya Visnyei

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How to create a Scandi-rustic holiday tablescape

Wrap star

Candles are key to tabletop mood lighting, but these festive votives look just as fabulous when they’re not lit. Gussied up with burlap wrap effortlessly secured by a tiny tree-shaped clothespin and a deer-stamped strip of cotton, they lend a quintessentially rustic-chic vibe. Frayed edges keep this craft virtually fuss-free but also require the use of battery-powered tea lights rather than open flames.

Gift Guides

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

Gift Guides

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

The children on your holiday shopping list are sure to love these unique and interactive gift ideas.

Shopping for kids can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially during the holidays. To keep the little ones on your holiday shopping list happy, we've rounded up some of our favourite fun and interactive gift ideas. Perfect for children of all ages, these items are sure to bring joy and excitement over the holidays.

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10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

1 Colour Your Own Puzzle

Colouring books will always be a popular gift. This year, gift your little Picasso with a unique spin on the classic colouring book - a puzzle they can colour themselves! Colour Your Own Puzzle, Winners, $12.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Winners

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

2 Interactive Toothbrush

A toothbrush that gets kids excited about brushing is a win-win for parents and children. Featuring an interactive app you can sync to your smart device and customizable stickers - what's not to love! Philips Sonicare for Kids, Walmart, $59.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Philips

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

3 Design Your Own Marble Maze

Perfect for the creative kid on your shopping list. This DIY marble maze allows players to design their own experience, challenge opponents and even features a fun virtual reality viewer. Seedling Marble Maze, Indigo, $74.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

4 Play Tent

When it's just too cold to play outside, this fun caravan-style tent is the perfect for letting creativity and imagination flourish indoors. HEMMAHOS Children's tent, IKEA, $39.99.

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

6 Cookie Cutter Set

This cookie cutter set is a great way to combine a young Jedi masters love for baking holiday treats and their obsession with all things Star Wars. Star Wars™ 8-Piece Cookie Cutter Set, Williams-Sonoma, $29.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Williams-Sonoma

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

7 Festive Bath Robe

Wrap a cozy robe up with hot chocolate mix and a classic Christmas movie and you've got the perfect go-to holiday gift for any kid. Bath robe, Joe Fresh, $22.

By: Style at Home
Source: Joe Fresh

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

8 Tiggly Learner Kit

Kids will love this fun, interactive, and imaginative way to learn math, language and shapes. Designed for use with your tablet, each subject has its own games and interactive toys. Tiggly Learner Kit, Best Buy, $99.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Best Buy

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

9 Board Game

Add a new addition to family game night with a classic like Scrabble. Fun for the whole family, this vintage edition comes in a stylish, linen-wrapped book. Scrabble Vintage Bookshelf Edition, Indigo, $49.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

10 Festive stuffed toy

Build-A-Bear Workshop's newest reindeer collection means from start to finish your children can put their own unique spin on creating the seasonal stuffed toy of their dreams. Glisten, Twinkle and Tinsel Reindeer, Build-A-Bear Workshop, prices vary.

All about cheese: Perfect plates and pairings

Food Tips

All about cheese: Perfect plates and pairings

Busy weeknights can sometimes mean that an elaborate
family meal is just not in the cards. Being so, we’ve found ourselves turning to casual
cheese plates for sufficient satiation, and Georgeanne Brennan’s book
Cheese Obsession is full of flavourful inspiration for complete courses, whatever your taste.
Fruit and nutServe richer, more aged cheeses with Seasonal fruits like figs,
pomegranates, grapes,
pears and persimmons to add a bright and flavourful juiciness.

Beer-friendlyPairing beer and cheese can yield a sharp and tangy marriage. Pungent, washed-rind cow’s milk cheeses, such as Fontina, aged
Gouda or Appenzeller, are a terrific choice, as are mild blues and any style of
Cheddar. Nuts, pickles and dried fruits enhance the hops in beer.

Light and herbyA selection of flavourful cheeses, a big
green salad and a crisp
white wine make a light and easy meal. pair an aromatic cheese like an Alsatian Muenster with a nuttier hard type. For a Provençal touch, drizzle goat cheese with a fruity olive oil and then top with fresh herbs.

Cheese cheat sheetWhether you're serving a cheese plater before a sit down dinner or hosting a
wine and cheese party, following this helpful cheat sheet will assit you in creating the perfect platter.

ChoosingYou can serve one carefully chosen
cheese and let its extraordinary qualities shine. But, in general, an assortment of three cheeses offers variety without overwhelming guests. When making your selections, diversity can be created in different ways: cheese age or type (one bloomy rind, one semi-firm, one blue), milk type (one cow’s milk, one goat’s milk, one sheep’s milk), country of origin (one French, one Spanish, one English) or even locale (three from California). Ultimately, you’ll want a range of flavours and textures, from creamy and buttery to crumbly and salty, and a mix of shapes and colours. Choose accompaniments to match the cheese, season and occasion, keeping flavour and texture in mind.
Purchasing and storingCheeses are best freshly cut, so avoid prew rapped pieces when possible. Storing cheese is always a balancing act: cheese must “breathe” or release moisture, but it also needs to stay moist and not dry out. Whenever possible, buy cheeses on the day of serving and keep the wedges at cool room temperature on a board or under a glass dome. When refrigerating, plastic wrap is the common, though imperfect, solution. The cheese won’t breathe, but it also won’t dry out. Use waxed paper for wrapping fresh and soft-ripened cheeses, which need to breathe the most in order to ripen properly.

PresentingA large platter, marble slab or
wooden board can accommodate three or four cheeses. Allow ample room for easy cutting. For a more formal presentation, you can pass individual cheese boards among guests. Give each cheese its own knife, so flavours don’t mingle. Rounded knives are best for spreading luscious, creamy cheeses and sharp knives are ideal for cutting hard, aged cheeses. A cheese knife with tines is perfect for transferring slices to plates.

ServingArrange cheeses so that they are easy to cut, such as laying a wedge on its side. Consider making the first cut yourself, as a guide, slicing so that each piece will have a bit of rind. This helps avoid an empty chunk of rind at the end of serving. Always let cheese come to room temperature before eating it. This may take up to a couple of hours.

PairingWhether served as a savoury tidbit to start or finish a meal or as the star of a casual gathering, cheese is always a versatile offering. Serve it on its own or with accompaniments – spreads, such as chutneys, jams or
tapenades; sweet elements like honeycomb or fresh, dried or candied fruits; or salty bites, such as
olives or nuts and a crusty baguette.